Caramel Apple Blow Pop Lollipops

As usual this time of year, work and real-life tends to get in the way of posting on The Holidaze.  I don't know when people will begin to realize how important it is to write about toys and candy, but we're not going to let that ruin our fun.  Continuing with this season's unofficial Caramel Apple theme, I'm back today to talk to you about the newest Blow Pop lollipop flavor.  I think I was as surprised as anybody to see Tootsie break away from their traditional flavors to join in on the Halloween celebration, but it's certainly welcomed!  As a kid, Blow Pops were amazing!  Because they were more readily available on an individual basis, I had no problem dishing out a few cents to enjoy a Sour Apple lollipop.  Let's face it, that's the top taste and most popular flavor of the classics.  Watermelon is a close second, but it's still no contest.  That's why this bag stood out to me so much!

Bat Dots

I've seen these pictured before, but I've never seen them in stores.  But finally, while looking through Michael's Craft Store, I saw these, along with a few other Halloween-themed candy, on my way out.  As soon as I did, I knew I had to have them.  The box art was perfectly designed for Halloween and apparently, somehow, these black Bat Dots were going to taste like something other than licorice.  Hm..

This packaging screams "Halloween."  The bats and colors just drew me right in and I'm sure they've done the same to many others.  But as I said, the most interesting component to this product is the fact that these black Bat Dots are being advertised as something other than licorice.  I absolutely hate licorice and everything that tastes like it.  I even hate the smell of it and I don't know how anything remotely related to licorice sells at all.  But, I was going to take a chance on these black Bat Dots anyway.  Tootise has led me to believe that they're "Blood Orange Flavored Gumdrops" and I just had to see what that meant.

Despite what the box says, I would have bet my Frankenberry that these gumdrops would have tasted, at least somewhat, like licorice.  Have you ever eaten anything black that didn't?  I haven't.  Black jellybeans, black Twizzlers and black Dots have all tasted like licorice.  So, I was hoping for the best but expecting the worst.  At the very least, I'd have an adorably happy bat to look at as I spit his brothers out into the trash.

Well, to my surprise, these things actually taste nothing like licorice.  They taste like orange.  I don't know what "blood orange" is supposed to taste like or if that is just a clever pun, but they're orange and their delicious. 

However, they're not black, at least not entirely.  For the most part, these Dots are blue.  They're a dark, deep, navy blue and the dye has a tendency to run.  But, who cares?  We get to eat something bluer than Boo Berry and have it taste like orange.  That's the magic of Halloween, baby!  However, it still holds true -- I've never tasted anything black that didn't taste like licorice...and I never will.

Caramel Apple Pops

First, let me welcome you to the Holidaze!  Chances are, you've accidentally stumbled across this blog without any real interest in hanging around long enough to check things out.  My guess is that you're either clicking through random blogs or may have misspelled "holidays" in the Google search box.  In that case, I'm hoping you're dumb enough to give The Holidaze a chance and join me in celebrating each season of the year through everything from candy and toys to cereal and vacations. 

You may or may not be familiar with http://www.x-entertainment.com/.  If you are, then you already know what i'm looking to do here with the Holidaze.  If you're not, then you owe it to yourself to give that link a click and dive into his archives.  I came across the site a few years ago and though, "wow, this guy likes everything that I like!  What an awesome idea."  Now, every Halloween and Christmas season, I can't help but to refresh his site for the newest updates.  There is no doubt, X-Entertainment is the place to be for all your nerdy pleasures and I am in no way trying to steal any thunder or attempting to outshine a site that I am such a big fan of.  Nope, XE is surely an inspiration, but I'm just talking about what I like and relating it to the seasons that make me happy.

So, let's get into the nitty gritty..

While shopping at Walgreens with my girlfriend, we came across this pack of Caramel Apple Pops made by Tootsie.  To be honest, I hadn't had one of these lollipops in years and probably would have passed them up had I been alone. However, my girlfriend loves them because they remind her of Summer at the Jersey Shore.  For that reason alone, they were worth dropping down a mean three dollars, but what good does that do for my new blog?

Well, upon returing home, I opened one of these suckers up and was instantly taken back in time.  These were first produced in 1995 and I would bet the last time I had one was around that time.  They might remind my girlfriend of Summer but, for me, they are nothing but Fall!  Everything about their flavor screams falling leaves, 45 degree weather and hoodies.  I picture myself picking apples in late October with my Sugar Daddy... the candy, of course.

I'm surprised, but I actually liked these things a lot.  I think the sense of Fall brings their rating up higher than the way they taste but, regardless, these are worth picking up if you're looking for something to snack on this Halloween season.  Sure, you can do better and this blog sure as hell can too, but we're only getting started.  Hang with me!